The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1887-01-13
h a BANKER EXPLAINS
Why He Would Not Attend a Banlr
With Henry George.

Why He Would Not Attend Bnnauc,
With Henry George.
New YORK, Jan. l2.-When the Com
mittee Of Irish.Americans Of this city de-
cided to give dinner to DR.. James E
Kelly, the prominent physician Of Dublin
they invited Eugene Kelly, the banker
Pm. Haverty, Henry George and great
many others. The dinner was given Mon
day evening, but Mr. Eugene Kelly and
Hayerty were not present. They had
previously informed the committee that
they could not attend, because Henry
George was among the guests. Eugene
Kelly was seen last night at his banking
house In Exchange Place, and asked why
he refused to be present. He replied as
follows: i'.
"some time ago I accepted an invitation
to dine with DR.. Kelly, q most admirable
man and very eminent physician, and
Saturday last I saw in some paper that
Henry George was to be present, and that
! was TO sit at his right hand, and that
Major Harerty was to sit at his left, and as
soon as saw that l wrote letter declin.
ing to be present. l regard Mr.. George as
a very dangerous man in community
like this. He is endeavoring To establish
q new party, and by specious pleadings,
by pretending to be the friend of tho poor,
he has induced good men from the Re-
publican party-a few Of them-to Join
him, and the rest Of bis following is made
up Of tramps, Anarchists, Socialists and
what not. He attacks the Catholics and
endeavors to show that they are not the
friends OF the poor, while in the next
breath he asserts himself the friend Of
the Catholics. The whole genius OF the
Catholic religion is sympathy and aid to
the poor it's pries.s give Up everything
that they may minister TO suffering in ey-
cry shape; its Sisters Of Charity have no
other mission than to aid the poor and suf-
fering, and knowing this felt that l could
not conscientiously sit at the same board
or engage in any work in which this man
has part. 49, 2tI T.
I'm country like this I regard the doc.
trinea OF George IS most perniCious. He
speaks OF the attitude OF the Catholic
church on the land question in Ireland,
but the conditions there areyery different
from what they are in this country. I do
not care to discuss that question further
than to say that the English law recog-
nizes the principle that those born on the
land have q right to living on 1t, but the
landlords ignore that principle and exact
from the tiller Of the soil his whole eub-
stance. Here there Is land for all, and
here there is a livelihood for all who are
willing to work. felt that If I Joined Mr..
George at this dinner the impression
might 20 abroad that l sympathized with
him in his land doctrines and in his pub
lished attacks on the Catholic religion,
This I could not for a moment permit.
and so declined to Co.: l have no feel
ing in common with Mr.. George, but on
the contra contrary thing his doctrines most
There may be more trouble Of q similar
kind about the dinner to be given Michael
Davitt on January 18th. 1t Is feared that
many prominent Irish Catholic, may fol-
low the example of Messrs Kelly and
Haverty and refuse to attend If Henry
George is to be one oftheguests. Mr.. George
said, yesterday, that he paid for tickets
for the banquet, but had since made up
bis mind to write to the Secretary Of the
Committee that if'any one was likely to
be absent on account OF his presence he
would not attend. Mr.. Dayitt recently
criticised Henry Georges article in bis
new paper on the case OF DR.. McGlynn,
and some mutual friends fear that the
pleasant relations Of Mr.. Davitt and Mr.!
George may be ruptured thereby.